Trump must not treat nation like business

Re: “Key takeaways from Trump’s first 100 days in White House” (Page A3, April 28).

Donald Trump and his advisers are trying to operate the government like a business. You can not operate the government like a business.

A business operates for profit. A government operates to serve the people, all the people, not just the rich and powerful.

— Joseph Rizzuto, Los Gatos

Criticism of Israel was based in bias

Re: “Lessons about Gaza war did not amount to bias” (Page A6, Sept. 22).

Describing Israel as a “settler-colonial state” betrays a bias. Like most states, Israel has many sides, some admirable and others less so.

To the accusation of genocide, it remains to history to decide that issue.

— Richard Krollm, San Jose

Time to ban abusive and lawless ICE

As our country pushes back on immigration, I write to you to advocate against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in our community. ICE should be abolished.

ICE has only caused harm and fear in our community. Children should not have to fear their parents being taken away. Schools should not have to reassure parents that their kids will be safe from ICE.

ICE is known to use excessive force and abuse its power.

They have detained and unlawfully arrested U.S. citizens, women and children.

People should not have to live behind bars without food, water and basic necessities just because they were looking for a better life here in the U.S.

Our country advertises itself as the land of the free.

This country is not practicing what it is preaching by allowing ICE to detain innocent people and strip them of their human rights and freedoms. Abolish ICE.

— Destiny Hunter, San Jose

Supporting Israel’s war endangers us all

Re: “Antisemitic incidents slow worldwide from post-Oct. 7 spike, but remain higher than before Gaza war” (April 24).

The Nuclear Peace Hypothesis holds that nuclear weapons deter wars between nuclear-armed states through mutually assured destruction. Israel, widely believed to possess over 235 nuclear weapons (compared to approximately 5,044 for the U.S. and 5,580 for Russia), hides behind its arsenal while committing acts that increasingly resemble genocide against the Palestinian people.

Meanwhile, the U.S. signals to regimes like Pakistan, North Korea and India that nuclear arms are insurance against Western-imposed regime change. Ukraine’s downfall after surrendering its nuclear weapons, along with the invasions of Iraq, Libya and Syria, prove that those without nuclear deterrence face existential risk. Iran, observing this reality, understands that survival demands strength, not Western promises.

Continued support for Israel’s campaign in Palestine not only enables atrocities but actively erodes the foundations of the international world order and discredits any meaningful commitment to human rights or the rule of law.

— Kendra Hoffman, Los Gatos

Trump’s irrational style could lead to peace

President Trump’s seemingly irrational negotiating style of shifting from one side to the other is a classic strategy. Ukraine knows it can’t win against Russia’s army, and Russia knows it can’t afford the cost of significant trade and financial sanctions and an expensive war.

The war will likely end with Ukraine ceding Crimea to Russia, which has always wanted it to protect its only naval access past Crimea to the Mediterranean Sea. Crimea is also 65% Russian and only 15% Ukrainian. To be negotiated is what happens to the land Russia captured in Ukraine. Russia will likely keep the coastal areas, with Ukraine getting areas further in from the coast.

— Ed Kahl

— Woodside

Colleges must do more to support single parents

As a single mother in college, I face the daily challenge of balancing classes, parenting and work. Many single moms in higher education are doing the same, often with limited support. We struggle not only financially, but emotionally and logistically, with few resources available to help us succeed.

Colleges must do more to support student parents, including offering affordable child care, flexible class schedules and targeted financial aid. Without these resources, it’s incredibly difficult for single moms to complete their degrees.

Supporting us is not just a matter of fairness, it’s an investment in families, communities and the future. If we want truly inclusive education, we need systems that recognize and respond to the needs of all students, including single parents.

— Fabiola Pineda

— San Jose

America has opened the door to fascism

Re: “Tested during election, United States failed” (Page A6, Sept. 22).

I agree with writer David Watkins, America failed its most important test.

I immigrated to this country in 1991, just months before the fall of the Soviet Union, after dreaming of being here for most of my adult life. My view of America had been shaped in part by listening to Voice of America and by my Dad, who taught me that America is governed not by people, but by laws.

I came here as a somewhat idealistic 29-year-old who was in awe of the fact that having been tested throughout its history, America had managed to reject both communism and fascism and remained the beacon of democracy for the rest of the world.

Sadly, this can no longer be said. A majority of American voters decided enough of that and, despite being warned, opened the door to fascism. How tragic.

— Alex Rozovsky

— Sunnyvale

Political diatribes have no place in schools

Re: “State officials uncover bias against Jewish students in 2 districts” (Page A1, April 18).

Branham High School discriminated against Jewish students by permitting teachers to display slides asking questions like: “Is Israel a settler colonial state?” and “if so, what does that mean for us in terms of who to support?”

Faulty grammar aside, neither one of these “questions” belongs in a balanced, apolitical ethnic studies curriculum. The questions were purely political and targeted a subset of the student population (Jewish students who are Zionist).

Recent commentators stated that it was basically “too bad” that the Branham teachers “made Jewish students uncomfortable,” but that is misleading and incorrect. The conduct of the teachers in question was blatantly political. The subject matter was not related to “ethnic studies” of anyone, even Palestinians.

— Nora Rousso

— Los Gatos

Republicans must break with MAGA party

The Republican Party has for generations held firmly to beliefs that include: balanced budgets; deficit reduction; limited government; states’ rights; and staunch anti-communism. None of this is part of the agenda in the current administration.

Republicans who still believe in Republicanism need to find or create a new party. In the meantime, consider joining with Independents and centrist Democrats to rid our country of a scourge intent on destroying all norms of a civil, democratic society.

— Eugene Ely

— San Jose

Simple plan promises cleaner, greener S.J.

I’m advocating for my town to install more public trash bins and recycling stations in parks and on busy streets.

Litter is a growing issue in our community, and accessible waste disposal options would encourage residents and visitors to dispose of trash responsibly. This small change could significantly reduce pollution, improve public spaces and promote environmental awareness.

I urge local leaders to prioritize this initiative for a cleaner, greener San Jose.

— Jason Morales

— San Jose